LAST week the government announced that £2.6 billion of Levelling Up funding will be awarded to communities across the UK through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The UKSPF fund is used to help local communities regenerate high streets, tackle economic decline and assist in reversing geographical inequalities – with areas in greater need receiving more support.

The funding is part of the government’s mission to ‘Level Up’ areas like the North West, by ensuring that where an individual is born does not determine the success and opportunities afforded to them.

I welcome the news that as part of this investment, £9,938,101 has been awarded to Wigan borough, which includes the Leigh constituency, from a total of £98,235,287 awarded to Greater Manchester as a whole.

The money will be distributed locally, with the scheme recognising that local residents know where the priorities in their communities lie and can allocate it accordingly.

The funding from this scheme will be much more flexible and locally led, freeing communities from the complex processes of the EU structural fund, slashing bureaucracy and supporting communities like Leigh to make a success of regeneration.

The fund also includes a new £559 million adult numeracy programme for the whole UK, entitled Multiply, which will support people with no or low-level maths skills to get back to work. The scheme will offer free personal tutoring, digital training and flexible courses to improve adults’ confidence and numeracy skills.

The spending confirms that the Conservative government has fulfilled its commitment to match previous EU funding on social and regional development.

The allocation formula for UK Shared Prosperity Fund takes into account both the local population data and a broadly based measure of need, including factors like unemployment and income levels. This is to ensure the largest amount of money is going to areas which will truly benefit from the fund.

I agree with the Secretary of State Michael Gove that the fund will help to unleash the creativity and talent of communities that have for too long been overlooked and undervalued, like Leigh’s.

I am incredibly hopeful for the future of Leigh and, with the sensible investment of this funding, as well as other government investment schemes, we will start to see real, observable change in Leigh. I am determined to work with the government to ensure that everyone is able to benefit from this investment to continue the work to level up our town.

That is why I welcome the investment of £9,938,101 for our borough, which can be used across a range of projects from supporting adults who lack basic numeracy skills, helping young people into good jobs and regenerating our high streets.

This investment will help local residents to fulfil their potential while reducing regional inequalities that have been left unaddressed for too long.

Under the EU structural fund, we only saw 50 per cent of our money come back to the UK, with the EU retaining the other 50 per cent, but I’m pleased to say that now local communities will receive 100 per cent of the money under this new funding model.